Flash Gordon

Flash Gordon is a science fiction comic strip originally drawn by Alex Raymond, first published on January 7, 1934. The comic strip followed the adventures of Flash Gordon, for whom the series was named, and his companions Dr. Hans Zarkov and Dale Arden. The story begins with Dr. Zarkov's invention of a rocket ship, in which the three of them make a journey to the planet Mongo, where they are stranded. Mongo is inhabited by a number of different cultures, some quite technologically advanced, that have been falling one by one under the domination of the vicious tyrant Ming the Merciless. Flash Gordon was featured in three serials starring Buster Crabbe: Flash Gordon (1936), Flash Gordon's Trip to Mars (1938), and Flash Gordon Conquers the Universe (1940).

ReferencesEdit

Kermit and Miss Piggy appeared as Flash Gordon and Dale Arden, facing off against a giant rat as Ming the Merciless in The Miss Piggy Calendar 1982. The parody was titled "Flash Frogers in Rat Wars in Outer Space."

In 1996, Muppets Tonight episode 202 presented a spoof serial, "Lash Holstein: Space Cowdet". In the sketch, narrated by the Cow Announcer, Lash Holstein fights against Moo-ing the Merciless and his henchman over the hand of Dorothy Bovine.

Beginning in Season 35, Sesame Street aired regular "Trash Gordon" segments. In these segments, Oscar the Grouch reads to his pet worm Slimey about the adventures of Trash Gordon. Gordon appears as Trash Gordon, who finds himself stranded on strange planets and comes up with non-combative ways of overcoming his adversaries.